Telautographic system.



I APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, |916.

G. SQTIFFANY. TELAUTOGRAPHIC SYSTEM* Patented sepan, 1918.

ll'" N I GEORGE TIFFANY, 0F SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY.

TELATOGRAPHIC SYSTEM.

Application filed July 22, 1916. Serial No. 110,693.

1T@ 7l wlw/1L it may concern: i

le 'it known that I, GEORGE S. TIFFANY, a citizen of the Ilnited States, residing at Summit, county of Union. and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telautographic Systems, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompany- Y ing drawings. forming a part of the Same..

' AThis invention relates to improvementsm telautographic systems of the variable-current-strength type. that is to say systems ln which the currents traversing the two main line circuits from the transmitting station to the receiving sta-tion are varied in strength, according'to the direction andextent of movement of the transmitting tracer, and. as thus varied, effect, through suitable devices at the receiving station, movements of the receiving pen corresponding in direction and extent of those of the transmitting traccr.'so that the receiving lpen will reproduce ythe writingfdone by the transmitting traceru A These. lmovements ot' the receiving pen are lusually ettected in apparatus now used directl)Y b v ciu'rclit-responsive members or pen-moving coils included in the main line circuits andwhich, in so moving thereceiving pen. move in a magnetic field excited from a local source of electrical energy connected with the latter by a suitable local circuit; localcircuits from the same source also controlling the operation of a pen-lifting magnet and paper shifting and other devices at. the receiving instrument.l

lVhenever the same is available the source of electric supply used for. these local circuits is usually that which is used (where the receiver located) for lighting and other purposes. but such current. must be directas the telautographic systems of the typel here referred to are not adapted for operation by alternating currents. It frequently happens` however, thatfthe current used for lighting' and other purposes in the place where a receiver is located is of the alternating kind. In such cases it is necessary to intcrposc between the source of supe ply ot' such current and the local receiver circuits, a motor generator, consisting of an alternating current motor, operated by the altermiting current, and adirect current generator. operated. in turn, by such motor and lwhen so operated supplying direct current to these local circuits. This motor generator isconnected with the alternating current supply source by.l a suitable circuit which is close-d land opened when a transmitting operation is-begun and ended, respectively.v The opening and closing of this circuit., and, therefore, the stopping and starting o'fthe motor generator, must be under control of theoperator in charge of the transmitting station. This is necessary in Aorder to avoid operation of the motor .generator and therefore waste of current when no transmitting operation is being carried on and also to providefor prompt operation of the receiver with the trans'- mitter.

lVhere the telautographic system is used `over short lines, or in whatv may be viewed as a purely local way, control of the stopping and starting of the motor generator resents no serious difficulties. It. is Otherwise, however, where the telautographic system is used over long lines which may be several kmiles in length). Iny these cases, such control from a distance, namely, the transmitting instrument, presents serious ditficulties due largely to the fact that, as the starting current. for the motor generator is necessarily very strong, the switch mechanism employed in the circuit to the latter from the alternating current source, for starting the motor generator must necessarily be massive and positive in its action. These diiiiculties are overcome by the improvements of the present invention, as will later on be made clear.

In the accompanying drawing,-

Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustrating so muchof anordinary telautographic system as is necessary for an understanding of the present invention, and, in connection therewith, added features embodying the improvements constituting the present invention, in their preferred'form; and

Fig. 2 is a detail ofthe switch mechanism for controlling the stopping and starting of the motor generator-the switch parts being `shown in the position they occupy when'the vtransmitting and receiving stations are eleczio bearing against rheostats 7, 8, respectively,

through which currents are supplied` from a direct current generator 9 into the two mam line circuits leading to the receiving instru- .positive pole of generator 9 through the rheostats 7, 8, to the main line circuits leading to the receiver. The circuit for rheostat 7. consists of brush 15, wire 16,-switch 11, contact 12, wires 17, 18, to rheostat 7 and wires 19, 20, and 21, therefrom to the negative pole of generator 9 which is connected to ground by wires 21, 22. The circuit for rheostat 8 consists of brush 15, wire 16, switch 11, contact 12, wires'l'?, 25, to rheostat 8 and wires 26, 20, and 21, therefrom to the negative pole of generator 9.

It will of course be understood that as each of the contact rollers 5 6, is moved lengthwise of its rheostats `7, 8, by the lateral orwriting movements of the transmitting tracer 1, more or less resistance will be introduced into the circuit from the generator 9 and the current through the rheostat into the left or right main line circuit,

as the case may be, to the receiving instrument, will therefore be correspondingly varied in strength.

It will also be understood that when the transmitting tracer 1 is hung up on the unison switch 11 the latter will be opened or disengaged from contact 12, thereby opening the circuits just described from generator 9, and that, therefore, when the transmitting tracer 1 is unhooked or removed from the unison switch 11, the latter will assume the closed position in which it is shown with relation to contact 12, closing these circuits and will continue in that position throughout the writing operations performed by tracer 1, or so long as the latter is not hung up.

The left main line circuits from the transmitting instrument to the receiving instrument (which latter is shown at the left of the drawing) consists of contact roller 5, bell crank 3, wire 30, relay 31, wire 32, relay 33, wire 34, horizontally movable currentresponsive member or pen-moving coil 35, at the left of the receiving instrument, and wires 36, 37, to ground at- -38, and thence through the ground and wires 22 and 21 to the negative pole of generator 9:l The functions of the two relays 31, 33, will be stated later on.

The rightmain line circuit consists of contact roller 6, bell crank 4, wire 40, contact 41, switch 42, wire 43, relay 44, wire 45, horizontally movable current-responsive member or pen-moving coil 46, at the right of the receiving instrument, and wires 47, 37, t0 ground at 38, and thence, by the ground and wires 22 21, to the negative pole of generator 9. 'llhe functions of relay 44 will be stated later on.

The pen-moving coils 35, 36, just referred to, as more fully described in my application, Serial No. 679598 tiled February 24, 1912, are adapted to be moved rectilinearly back and forth horiZ0ntally,-in one direction by the current traversing the main lines and the other by springs (not shown). These movements of the coils take place in a magnetic tield provided by an electromagnet 50, and are communicated, through pen-arms 5l, 52, and 53, 54, to the receiving pen 55, which is thereby caused to reproduce the lateral movements of the transmitting tracer and to produce, on its writing platen 56, the writing performed by the latter.

Where a source of direct current (such as used for lighting purposes) is available, the energization of magnet 50 would be effected from such source, through a circuit therefrom comprising, for example, (in the energized condition of relay 33) wires 60, 61, from the source of supply, contact 62, armature 63 of relay 33, wires 64, 65, magnet 50, and wires 66, 67, 68, .leading back to the source of I.supply. The relay 33, which controls this local circuit (closing it when current is on the left main line) also controls another circuit including wires 69, 70, and the usual pen-lifting magnet 7l, which, through connections shown and others not shown, controls the raising and lowering of the receiving pen with relation to its writing platen 56.

As before stated, however, a source o supply of direct current is not always available for use in the local circuits in the receiving instrument, the available current used 1n many places being alternating, which as before stated, is unsuitablefor use in these circuits. -In such case it is necessary to interpose` between these local circuits and the alternating currentl source of supply, a motor generator for supplying direct current to these circuits. It is also necessary that the connect-ions (which arel located in the receiver) for stopping and starting the motor generator should be under the control of the operator at the transmitting instrument so as to avoid waste of current and wear of appara-tus when the telautogra'phic syst-em is not in us,e.....An

ing current motor 81 by the following circuits: terminal 85, of generator 80, wires- 86, 87, 88, to alternating current motor 81, wire 89, stationary contact 90, movable contact 91, and wires 92, 93, 94 to the other terminal 95 of generator 80. The contact 91 just referred to forms part of the local switch mechanism in the receiver for stopping and starting the motor 81. The opening and closing of the circuit just described from generator 80 to motor 81, and therefore the stopping and starting of motor 81 and direct current 'generator 82, is controlled by a pair of solenoids 99, 100, included in av pair of local circuits the opening and closing of which is controlled` from the transmitting station, by the left and right main line circuits, respectively, all of which will presently be made clear. The switch mechanism referred to comprises a rod 101 mounted to slide endwise in a bracket 102 and a pivotally, mounted three-armed bell crank lever 103 for so moving it. Rod 101 carries contact 91 and itself constitutes another contact for a purpose stated later on.

One arm of lever '103 is connected with the core 104 of solenoid 100 and another with rod 101, while the third armengages a pivoted latch 105, the free `end of which restsy upon the upper end of core 106 of `solenoid 99. Normally, that is-to say, when the main line circuits are open and the transmitting and receiving instruments are therefore disconnected electrically, the bell crank lever 103, the core 101 of solenoid 100, and the contacts 91 and 101, occupy the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 2,' with contact 101 in engagement with a spring contact 107, which as more fully described later 011 forms part of a local circuit through which the the operation of the lever 103,for starting the motor 81, is controlled. In this position of the parts, there being no current on the leftline and relay 31 being therefore in a deenergized condition, the armature 108 of relay 31 rests against its back contact 109, which latter forms part of another local circuit through which tthe operation of lever 103, for stopping the motor 81, is controlled, as explained later on. lVhen the operator removes the transmitting tracer from unison switch 11, to start a transmitting operation, said unison switch will, by engagement with contact 12, close the circuits from generator `9 Ythrough rheostats 7 8, and the right and left main 'lines heretofore described, to the receiving instrument. The closing of the left main line circuit will energize relay 31 which `will then attract its armature 108, moving it from back contact 109vto front contact 111, which also forms part of the local circuit controlling the operation of lever 103 to start the motor 81. I

With the armature -108 in the position stated, this local circuit is closed, from the terminal 85 of generator 80, and consists of wires 86, 87, 110, armature 108, contact 111,'

wire 112, solenoid 99, wire 113, contact 107,

- contact 101, and wires 92, 93, 94,'to the other terminal 95 of generator 80. Current then traversing this circuit will energize solenoid 99, the core 106 of which will thereupon move upwardly and, in doing so, move the shoulder on the under side of latch 105 out of engagement with bell crank 103. The latter, thus released will thereupon be rocked downwardly frornthe position in which it isfshown in Figi. 2 to that in which it is shown in Fig. 1, by the weight of the horizontal arm of lever 103 and of the core 104 of solenoid 100. VThis movement of the bell crank lever 103 will disengage the contact 101 from contact 107, thereby breaking the local circuit through solenoid 99 (the core 106, thereof, with latch 105, then returning to normal position) and engaging contact 91 with contact 90, thereby closing the circuit heretofore described between generator and motor 81, and starting the latter. Motor 81 will then operate generator 82, which will in turn supply the necessary direct current to the local receiver circuits heretofore described as including the magnets 50, 71, and continue doing so as long as the bell crank lever 103 remains in the startthat as the starting current is very powerful the switch mechanism controlling the starting of the motor 81 must necessarily be massive and positive in its'action.

lt will also be noted that, while the motor 81 is operating. it and its circuit from generator 80 are disconnected electrically from the main line circuits from the transmitter by the breaking of the circuit from generator 80 through solenoid 99 due to the disengagement of contact 101 from contact 107.' The closing ofthe unison switch 11 will, as just described. close the circuit through solenoid 99 to release the bell crank 103 so that the latter will close the circuit between the generator 80 and motor 81, but the opening ofthe unison switch will not of itself operate bell crank lever for the purpose of opening this circuit, although its opening is a necessary preliminary to such operation of the bell crank lever. This operation of bell crank lever 103 is accomplished in the present case as will soon be described, directly by the switch 42, which forms part of the right main line circuit and is under the control of the operator in charge of the transmitt-ing instrument.

When the operator has finished a transmitting operation and desires to disconnect his transmitting instrument, electrically from the receiving instrument, he will rcturn the transmitting tracer 1 to the unison point, or in other words, hang up]7 thereby'opening unison switch 11. The opening of this switch disconnects rheostats, 7, 8, and therefore the main line circuits from the generator 9 and denergizeg relay 31 as well as the relays 33, 44. This, however, has no eiiect on the bell crank lever 103, so that if nothing more were done, generator 80 would remain in circuit with motor 81, and the latter would continue to operate generator 82. To break this circuit the switch 42 is (after unison switch 11 has been opened) depressed out of engagement with contact 41 and into engagement with a contact 115, thereby connecting the right main line 43, etc., directly with generator 9 through wire 116 and resistance 117. The circuit thus closed will energize relay 44, at the receiver, which will attract its armature 120 and move it into engagement with contact 121. This closes the following circuit from generator 80 through solenoid 100: terminal 85 of said generator, wires 86, 87, 110, armature 108 of relay 31, (which is deenergized because no current is on the left line) back contact 109, wires 122, 123, armature 120, contact 121, wires 124, 125, solenoid 100, and wires 126, 93. 94, to the other terminal 95 or" generator 80. The strong current then traversing this main line circuit will energize solenoid 100 which will draw its heavy core 104 upwardly and through it rock bell crank 103 to the left until it-s upper end slips under and rengages the shoulder on latch 105, the latter being in position for such engagement because, as before pointed out, the local circuit through solenoid 99 has been broken by disengagement of contacts 108, 111, forming part of such circuit. This movement of bell crank 103 will disconnect contact 91 from contact 90, thereby breaking the circuit from generator 80 to motor 8l, the operation of which will thereupon cease. Contact '101 will, upon this movement of bell crank 103, be re'e'ngaged with contact 107 so that when the transmitting-tracer is again unhooked, unison switch 11 thereby closed, and curremesa rents traverse the main lines from generator 9, relay 31 will again be energized. The operation of opening the local circuit rcferred to is therefore electrical, unlike that of closing this circuit.

ln case the transmitting operator, after hooking-up the tracer 1, should neglect to operate the switch 42, to break the circuit between generator 80 and motor 81 and thereby stop the opera-tion of the latter and of the generator 82, suchcircuit may lbe broken by the operator in charge of the receiving instrument through circuit connections controlled by a switch 130 and consisting of wire 131vconnected with wire 122 leading from terminal 85 of generator 80, and wire 132 connectedwith wire 125 leading to solenoid 100 and thence to the other terminal 95 of generator 80. The movement of this switch 130 into engagement with its contact 133 closes the circuit 'heretofore described from generator 80 through solenoid 100, the core 104 of which will thereupon rock bell crank v103 to its position of engagement with the shoulder on latch 105.

A visual indicator as to the closed and open condition of this circuit or,.in other words, operation or non-operation Aof the direct current generator 82, is provided in the shape of an electric lamp 135 connected by wires 136, 137` with wires 60, 68, respectively, with magnets 50, 71. This will indicate to the. operator in charge of the receiving instrument whether or not the generator 82 is in operation.

What I claim is 1. ln a variable-current-strength telautographic system, the combination with the main line and local magnet-energizing receiver circuits, of' ay source of alternating current supply, a direct current'motor generator electrically connected with said receiver circuits, switch mechanism controlling the electrical connection of the motor generator with said supply source, means, including a pair of local circuits, for controlling its circuit closing and opening movements, means in the main line circuits controlling said pair 0f local circuits whereby when one main line circuit is closed the motor generator is started, and when said main line circuit is open and the other main line circuit closed the motor generator is stopped, and means at the transmitting station for effecting these conditions in the main line circuits, substantially as described.

2. In a variable-current-strength telautographic system, the combination with the main line and local magnet-energizing receiver circuits, of a source of alternating current supply, a direct current motor generator electrically connected with said receiver circuits, switch mechanism controlling the electrical connection of the motor genof the local circuit from generator `82 erator with said supply source, means, including a pair of local eircuits,'for controlling its circuity closing. and opening movements, means in' the main line circuits controlling said pair of local circuits whereby when one main line circuit is closed one of said local circuits is closed and the other opened and the mdtor generator started, and when said main line circuit is open and the other main line circuit closed the condition of said local circuits is reversed and the motor generator stopped, and means at the transmitting station for eii'ectingthese conditions in the main lineciicuits, substantially as described.

3; In a variable-current-strength telautographic system, the combination with the main line and local magnet-energizing receiver circuits, of a .source of alternating current supply, a direct current motor generator electrically connected with said receiver` circuits,l switch mechanism control.

lingtheelectrical connection of the motor generator with said supplyr source, mechanically operating means for actuating said switch mechanism to start the motor generator, a latch restraining such operation, electrically operating means for actuating said switch mechanism to` stop the motor generator, a pair of local circuits .controlling said latch and electrically operating means,

-means in the main line circuits Vcontrolling -said pair of local circuits whereby when one main line circuit is closed said latch is released and the motor generator started, and when said main line circuit is open and the other closed the motor generator is stopped,

`and means at the transmitting station for effectingv these conditions in vthe vmain line circuits, substantially as described. A Y

4. In a variable-current-strength telautographic system, the combination with the main line and the local magnet-energizing receiver circuits, of a source of alternating current supply, a direct current motor generator electrically connected with said local receiver circuits, switch mechanism controlling the electrical connection of the motor generator with said supply source circuit, mechanically operating means for actuating said switch mechanism to start the motor generator, a latch restraining such operation, Y

the switch mechanism again latched against mechanical operation, and means at the transmitting station for effecting these conditions in the main line circuits, substantially as described.

In a variable-current-strength telautographic System, the combination with the main line and local magnet-energizing receiver circuits, of a source of alternating current supply, a direct current motor generator electrically connected with said re-. f

ceiver circuits, switch mechanism' controlling the electrical connection of the motor generator with said supplysource, a pairof solenoids and local circuits for controlling its circuit closing-and opening movements,

means in the main line circuits controlling said pair of local circuitswhereby when on'e main line circuit is closed one of -sad local circuits is closed, the solenoidftherein is excited and the motor generator is started, and when said main line circuit is open and the other rmain-line circuitclosedthe other local circuit is fclosedfthe solenoid therein is excited and the motorgenerator is stopped,

and means' at4 the transmitting station forfv effecting-,these conditions in the main line circuits, substantially as described. l

6. In a variable-current-strength telautographicY system, the combination w-ithithe' main line and local Vmagnet-energizing receiver circuits, of a source of alternating current supply, a direct current motor generator electrically connected with said receiver circuits, switch mechanism controlling the circuits controlling said latch and said sole- K Y noid, means in the main line circuits controlling ysaid pair of local circuits whereby when one main line circuit is closed said latch circuit is closed and said latch released and -the motor generator started, and when said mainline circuit is open and the other main line circuit closed the said solenoid circuit is closed and the motor generator stopped, and means at the transmitting sta-` tion for effecting these conditions in the main line circuits, substantially as described In a variable-current-strength telautographic system, the combination with the l l main line and local magnet-energizing receiver circuits, of a source ofV alternating current supply, a direct current motor generator electrically connected with said receiver circuits, switch mechanism controlling the electrical connection ofthe motor generator with said supply source, a solenoid operating electrically to actuate the switch mech- 100 i electricalconnectionof the motor generator y v gravity aiiism to stop the motor geneiator and comprising a'meinber operating by gravity to actuate the switch mechanism to start the motor generator, a`lateli restraining such actuation of the switch mechanism, a solenoid for actuating the latch, a pair of local circuits controlling said solenoids, means in the main line circuits controlling said pair 'of local circuits whereby when one main line circuit is closed said latch solenoid is excited, said latch released and the motor generator started, and when said main line circuit is open and the other main line circuit closed the other solenoid circuit is closed and the motor generator stopped, and means at the transmitting station for effecting these conditions in the main line circuits, substantially as described.

S. Ina variable-current-strength telautographic system, the combination with `the main line and local magnet-energizing receiver circuits, 'of a source of alternating current supply, a direct current motor generator` electrically connected with said receiver circuits, switch'mechanism controlling the electrical connection of the motor generator with said supply source, means, including a pair of local circuits, for controlling its circuit closing and opening movements, means in the main line circuits controlling said pairof local circuits whereby when one main line circuit is closed the motor generator is started, and when said main line circuit is open and the other main line circuit closed the motor generator is stopped, means at the transmitting` station for effecting these conditions n the main line circuits, an

means at the receiver for closing the lastnained main line circuit to stop the motor generator, substantially as described.

9. In a variablecurrent-strength telautographic system, the combination with the main line and local magnet-energizing receiver circuits, of a source of alternating current supply` a direct current motor generator electrically connected with said receiver circuits, switch mechanism control- Lavaca@ ling the electrical connection of the motor generator with said supply source, means, including a pair of local circuits, for controlling its circuit closing and opening movements, means in one of the main line circuits operating, as the main line circuits are closed for a writing operation, to close one of said local circuits and start. the motor gene ator, means in the other main line circuit operable, after the main line circuits are opened and said other main line circuits is re-closed, to close the other of saidV local circuits and stop the motor generator, and means at the transmitting station for so reclosing said other main line circuit, substantially as. described.

l0. ln a variablecurrent-strength telautographic system, the comb-ination with the main line and local magnet-energizing receiver circuits, of a source of alternating current supply, a direct current motor generator electrically connected with said receiver circuits` switch mechanism controlling the, electrical connection of the motor generator with said supply source mechanically operating means for actuating said switch meehanisin to start the motor generator, a latch restraining such operation, electrically operating means for actuating said switch lto stop the motor generator, a pair of local circuits controlling` said latch and electrically operating means, means in one of the main line circuits operating, as the main line circuits are closed for a writing operation,v

to close one of said pair of local circuits to release the latch and start the motor genern ator" means in the other main line circuit operable, after the main line circuits are opened and said other main line circuit is reclosed, to close the other of said local circuits and stop the motor generator, and

' meansat the transmitting station for so reclosing saidl other main line circuit, substantially as described.

, In testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my hand.

vGEORGE S. TlllFANY. 

